Wedding reception

Went to my cousin's daughter's wedding reception tonight. Was good to see faraway family in person again. Mostly keep in touch through the internet. At least I recognized them, when my internet-challenged Mom and sister couldn't recognize our cousins' kids very well. My Mom can't remember any of my cousins' kids names. I think the last time was saw each other was my Dad's funeral a few years ago. Weddings and funerals is when we get together now.

Another upset customer

Made customer mad when I did a store credit card application for the person ahead of her. I should have warned my clients I was going to take a long time. Yeah, and she could have moved to any 3 cash registers ready to help her at any moment she got tired of waiting too. I think people just want to complain instead of solving a problem.


Had another customer debate a wrong price, but didn't know what the correct price was (just thought it was lower than scanned). So he goes to check the price. If the scanned price is wrong, I will alter it, no problem (If we did our own price changes I bet there would be less of this problem). Meanwhile, another person wants to check out and prior customer returns while I'm helping that person. So he waits patiently for me to finish and I give him an extra discount for his patience (I do that when customers move carts out of the way so I don't have to also). I told him: It's pays off to be patient, I'm much nicer. He agreed.

PS. Didn't give the 1st paragraph lady any additional discount. 

Interesting speech

I am ringing up a customer when a lady interrupted asking if our store manager was here. Haven't seen here so call a manager to ask, thinking lady is possibly a friend. No, she is on vacation right now. Lady explodes into "How can we not have a manager in this entire store!". Um, that's not what I said, but I can get a manager here since I am speaking to one on the phone (just not the top dog). Then lady decides she wants the shoes manager instead. I'm not sure who that is, but I say nothing.

So lady disappears ( I hate it when people do that after screaming in my face demanding a manager, but many do that when their tantrum has ended). Manager shows up and asks customer I'm helping if she needed help. Nope, the lady is behind me (ok not disappeared, just out of my view). Well, I helped 4 customers so didn't catch what the problem was. I caught the manager saying "I understand your frustration" and "Yes, that does tend to happen".  Then lady storms out. Don't ask what lady's problem was. Sometimes it is best not to ask questions.

A Rescue Group's Answering Machine

A RESCUE GROUP'S ANSWERING MACHINE




Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home right away.



Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your 150 pound, 8-year-old dog.



Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a baby and dogs at the same time.



Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.



Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.



Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY and pick up the dog you no longer want.



Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for the last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your dog.



Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money for your vacation.



Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not active and is going to outlive you.



Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.



Press 14 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up before I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way to work.



Press 15 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.



Press 16 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is not our responsibility.



Press 17 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog to be euthanized because I won't take it.



Press 18 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.



Press 19 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid and cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.



Press 20 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your neighbor's cats.



Press 21 if you have already called once and been told we don't take personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this time with a different answer.



Press 22 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge, of course.



Press 23 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before your kids wake up.



Press 24 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.



Press 25 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and it is against your religion.



Press 26 if you're lying to make one of our younger volunteers feel bad and take your personal pet off your hands.



Press 27 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because it is declawed, but you are not willing to accept the responsibility that the cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.



Press 28 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.



Press 29 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling because she is suddenly pregnant.



Press 30 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog and have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it is cruel.



Press 31 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are also working and you are angry because no one called you back.



Press 32 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because today is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born.



Press 33 if your dog's coat doesn't match your new furniture and you need a different color or breed.



Press 34 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next month anyway) instead of the dog.



Press 35 if it is Christmas Eve, and the Shih Tzu that you got 7 months ago because your 8 yr old and your 11 yr old PROMISED to take care of it isn't working out and you are going to teach them a lesson by making them walk the dog up to the rescuer's door to give it up. Merry Christmas, kids!



Press 36 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his family.



~Author Unknown, but much appreciated



.

Poor Precious

Precious is ready to tear apart the front door to take a walk outside, but he refuses the harness and now it's raining. Poor Precious. In addition to that, I singed my finger removing fish sticks from the oven. How's your day going?

Pass it on

Niece in college wrote a poem about an unknown jerk stealing her cookie. Ah, I passed my passion for writing down to next generation. Proud aunt here.

Good prayer

This is from a friend.

Now I lay me down to sleep;


I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

if I die before I wake,

will someone please get rid of my porn before my mom goes through my stuff...

Halloween card

Received a Halloween card from aunt with her usual disappointment we don't talk much. Sorry our lives are too boring and routine to have many stories to tell. She said she spoke to my Mom on the phone and disappointed my Mom didn't have more news about us. Let's see, we work, take kids to school, dance classes, playdates, homework, take pets for a walk, plant flowers in the backyard, ride bikes, take walks down the street, and worry what will we do if we loose our job. Not many stories in those things to tell my aunt, or even my Mom.

Let's go over my stories I told this week to my coworkers. Nephew disassembled his toys with Daddy's tools (he got a child tool set for his birthday). Bret Michaels visited my cousin's daughter's wedding celebration taking place on top of a tour bus in Las Vegas (he saw they were having fun from his limo and decided to join the party). Got a catnip plant and started a cat fight when Frodo didn't want to share. That's about it. Today visiting niece and nephew to deliver Halloween specials (Peanuts, Winnie the Pooh). I'm my sister's personal video rental store. But, I only get movies I like and anything I don't have she can TiVo off the satellite. That should take up about 5 minutes of conversation f I actually spoke to my aunt on the phone. Amazing we have FIND stories in our daily lives to satisfy my aunt's lonely life. 

Not much happening here

Sorry for not posting for a while. Not much happens around here.

Let's see, um. Had a tag switcher. Yes, in the addition to shoplifters who don't pay for their merchandise we have tag switchers who give themselves a huge discount.

Definition of tag switcher: Person who removes a lower price tag off 1 item and places it on a higher price item, then complains the scanned price is not correct and demands the lower tag price they put on declaring they found it that way. Well, this person who pretends not to speak English, but understands everything I say, didn't complain until after I gave her change. Which means, I have t call a manager to give a refund. I explain to manager that all the customer's item prices are wrong (clue to spot a tag switcher) Manager refuses the refund explaining the tags are wrong and scanned prices are correct. Customer doesn't want the items now since she ain't getting them 99% off and leaves.

Manager called whoever about catching a tag switcher (another clue is they place the clearance sticker on top of the UPC code hoping I won't able to scan and just type in their price, but often I remove the tag to scan it and refuse to believe a $50 steak knife set is marked down to 99 cents). Manager leaves and come back later stating they stopped the person at another store. I'm unsure if that meant arrested or just caught, but didn't ask questions. In the end, they were caught.  

At least it gave me a story to tell my friends, right?

Jokes of the day

Joke 1
Guy speaking: My girlfriend took my beer and porn and locked it up in a safe. She explained the combination is her birthday.

Me: What a way to get a guy to remember your birthday.


Joke 2
Friend: Time to ditch your man, your friends, and even your phone for a solo adventure. Why? Experts say it will rock your world...and change the way your brain works.

Me: That describes my life every day. Except the 2 days a year I take the cats to the vet.


 

Early bird special

Had an early bird special and expected a large crowd right before the end time for the sale. Waiting, waiting. Had a spurt of customers checking out, but no large crowd. Oh well, I'll just stand here a daydream. Nope, coworkers have to talk to me.

One commented how skinny and beautiful I am while she is fat and ugly. Yeah, we look the same size. Compare pants sizes and there is 1 size difference between us. Amazing. Weight is not a number, but a perception.

Then another coworker failed to understand how can I work as a lowly cashier when I have a college degree. Um, cause nobody will pay me to do anything else.

What about teaching? she asks. Sure, if I had a Master's or PHD, I could be a college professor. But I have a little Bachelor's so that would be a no. How did I get here? I'm college educated. How do I explain that the only people impressed with my Mighty College Education are people who never went to college? But instead, I reply that I intended to use my lovely decorative degree doing museum work, but museum work that requests a history major are volunteers and interns. No, they want fundraisers, accountants, managers of volunteers, you know business majors. The only history major job that pays enough to survive on is the curator and you need 20 years experience to get that job. I'm sorry, I made more money renting cars at the airport than any museum around here.

I'm sorry to say that a precious college degree does not guarentee a 6-figure income or fancy job when you walk out the door.

Amazing

Social network page friend who has a child who was devastated when a friend of theirs commited suicide. In response to comforting her child, this person says that school children need to be nice to each other. I find this amazing coming from the bully from hell from 1st grade through 12th grade. Wow, said person really grew up. I did too, that's why said ex-bully is my social network page friend. 

Joke of the day

Joke of the day: Customer asks how I am really doing (Already replied: I'm always good in front of customers).


Ok. I'm wishing I'm married to a millionaire but there is a short supply of those in Iowa. Ba da dum.

If I were to move to a place where lots of rich people lived, I'm sure the only word a millionaire would say to me would be "Waitress".

What a day

I'm ready to take my break, BUT the coworker who is suppose to come in at the same time I take my break is not there. Okay, 5 minutes late you think she is just stuck in traffic.15 minutes late you think she better be in a ditch. 30 minutes late start to get PO'ed cause I want my break and customers keep coming so can't call for a manager for help. Call for additional sales clerk to help me with the crowd gathering at my register. Coworker and manager come to help. 40 minutes make my coworker's absence when I need a break known to manager. Oh, her husband called to say she was sick and manager forgot all about it. Thanx. Get my break and return to find coworker there. 1 hour late. What is she doing here, she suppose to be sick? She took a sleeping pill instead of a look alike pill she was suppose to take and it knocked her out. Poor dear.

At the end of my shift, I'm by myself and not suppose to abandon the counters. Call for additional help for other registers is heard so wait until I could see no customers to occupy them. Call for a manager and explain I'm suppose to leave 10 minutes ago, can they send someone to relieve me. Get another 15 minutes on my paycheck and relief comes. Yeah, I can use my coupon now. Intend to buy one shirt and walk away with three. Amazing how that happens.  My manager is at the register alone, poor dear. She checks me out and I comment how I learned to be annoying when extra help doesn't come. Hey, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, right? 

Now I'm home. I'm ready for a nap.

Day off

Worked my day off, good thing I had my laundry done when they called. Then asked to stay longer cause we were so busy. Heck yeah, I need all the hours I can get. When it died down and no cars in the parking lot, they said I could leave.

During my 2nd break from extended hours, I saw a half full bag of popcorn in the breakroom. Asked gal if she knew who left it here. Nope. OK, then I am claiming this abandoned and ate it. I had so available cookies too and stuffed my face. I'm selfish when hungry. It's true.

Coupon caper

My poor coworker got a customer w/5 coupons that are 1 per person. Asked her how she got so many. She bought them on Ebay. What kind of idiot buys coupons? Coupons are free people. Probably explains where the phony coupons come from.

Naturally I checked Ebay and yes, you can buy coupons to my store in packs of 5 or 10 for 99 cents to $15. If you do buy coupons, please don't use them all at once or you will raise the alarms in our heads.

Cat walk

I take my cat Precious for a walk. Neighbor with dog comes by and asks if my cat is pregnant. No, I reply, HE is just fat.

Fall cleaning

I get 3 days off and I spend it cleaning my apartment. What is wrong with me? I finally run out of things to clean and can relax. Cats too. They hate the vacuum. I spent 2 nights, 6 hours total, working on my novel to complete: 4 pages. At least I finished a chapter and began another. Oh the trials of creating stories out of your head. Now time for bed. Gotta work tomorow.

9/11 tributes

Reading tributes to 9/11 Anniversary, or rather angry revenge sentiments, I recall Yoda in Episode 1 telling little Anakin:


Fear leads to hate, hate leads to anger, anger leads to suffering. I see much fear in you.

Not all Muslims are the enemy just like not all Christians are neo-Nazis.

10 years ago

10 years ago, I woke up and got ready for work at a airport car rental. The radio driving to work was nonstop talk about a plane crash in Pennsylvania. Whatever. I was frustrated I couldn't find any music on the radio. Show up for my training at my new job (I had a 2nd job as well at the time). My manager cried, OMG, did you see what happened. People had said it was like watching a movie, except this was real. SO unbelievable. Yeah, I heard something about a plane crashing in a field in Pennsylvania, What is going on around here? Manager sent me to the airport bar to watch on TV. There I saw the planes crash into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania.

Manager said all planes landed immediately and they had hundreds at their counter wanting a car. It was crazy this morning. So the rest of the day, I sat in a corner while manager told everyone we are sold out of cars. I returned some cars from stranded passengers. Found out a gal at another car rental had a son who worked at the WTC and after the 1st plane hit, he ran out of his office minutes before the 2nd plane crashed into his office. He did call her to say he was okay at home with his relieved wife.

10 years later, I sit at home watching Kill Bill Vol and in 5 minutes, Vol 2. How appropriate.   

Weirdoes

Why do people ask for a truthful answer to "How R U?". Trust me, you don't want the truth of how my day is going.


I'm happy as a clam and luv my job. What could I possibly be bitchy about?

Wake up call

Got a call from my office asking me to come in hours early from a coworker calling in sick, at 6 AM. I was asleep and didn't wake up to receive message until 11 AM. Sorry, I sleep in when I'm not due to work until the afternoon. Oh well.

Happy Birthday to me

I wake up and pet Frodo ready for attention. Then my monthly visitor has to shed blood all over my pj's and sheets, and mattress cover. So use up my quarters to wash damn sheets instead of clothes. Bet you didn't want to read that. So here I am petting the cats and waiting for sheets to dry. Soon get to work and come home to sleep cause got to get up early tomorrow to work again. Nice birthday for me. At least I have birthday cards to look at. Maybe eat cake later in the week, or maybe next week when my sister finally remembers my birthday like she does every year. Happy Birthday to me.

And on top of all that, the washer or dryer ruins my new bra.

At work I altered my story to The Cat Puked on the sheets b/c thought the blood might be too graphic. Now sitting with the cats eating pizza.

Jennifer Lopez is in the store

Yes, we got Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are at my store (if you don't know which one, then I ain't gonna tell you). I wondered if we are funding their divorce. Customer says poor Marc will paying lots of child support so he neds our money. Nice stuff too.

Visit w/sister

Went over to sister's house to help her with her homework. Time consuming typing was what it was. Sister made supper w/kids who don't like trying new things. Our motto: "If they never had it, then how do they know they don't like it?" Then it was time to pick up their rooms and then they played w/toys. Naturally they wanted on the computer, but I was on it. Then they had to get ready for bed just as I finished up. I realized talking to kids my niece's broken backpack was never replaced. So I go to the store down the street and exchanged it. Niece wanted to come and pick it out, but it was time for bed and they have school tomorrow. I know what she likes. So return and grab more homework for me to do at home. Sister is trying to recruit other volunteers in this endless paperwork her school demands the teachers do.

Back home, give cats their treats and Precious is terrified of me. He growled when I petted him. Frodo got over his vet visit. He let me pet him and play w/him, w/same toy I tricked him with earlier. Now time for bed. That should make them calmer.

Frodo and the vet

Had to trick Frodo into the carrier. First I tried to spark curiosity by taking out my Fall decorations. Precious investigated the noise, but not Frodo. So tried again coaxing w/favorite toy. He was hesitatant going into the bedrooms w/toy, but overcame his fears and we played and played until he got tired. Then I shut the door to trap him. He didn't want to play anymore, he ran for it under the bed. Then under the chair that I picked up and grabbed his curled up ball of fur into the carrier. Meowed all the way there. Then we had to wait. Lab needed his heartworm check test and rabies shot. Dashund picked up from surgery. Then Himalayan cat, seal point, came out from exam room from a flea treatment. Poodle entered door w/tongue hanging from the side b/c her front teeth had been pulled out and in for a check up. Then our time came.

Frodo hissed and growled. Vet tipped the carrier to get him out. Had our exam (skipped the weight part) and shots. Feisty as usual, but no biting. He was a good boy. Returning home, Frodo panted so hard w/tongue sticking out that he drooled all over his paw. He still doesn't like me touching him. Precious was terrified of me, but he had his vet visit 2 months ago. Don't have to go there for another year.

Begging for money

Mom called since rent is due in 2 days wanting to know if I need money. Oh, yes, are you sittng? Much more than she was expecting me to say. Yes, well, I'm not getting many hours so my paychecks are small. I even read off a credit card bill. Gas, groceries, chiropractor, cable tv, phone, cell, electric, my splurge at my retail store (extra discounts we too hard to resist), gift to friend's new baby, car repair, and finally Rent. It all adds up. I told her I did apply for a job at a bookstore that was full time. Haven't seen Full time work for so long I had to soak in the shock before applying. I would love to work at a bookstore, I'm a bookworm. I know, dangerous place work knowing my splurges on sale items. But I need money and can't afford to live on the allowance my current job can give me.

Critics

So the critics are saying since Hurricane Irene lost some of her strong power that the public officials overreacted in their evacuation of the large cities, thus saying they were unncessary. Excuse me? Around 40 known people died in the hurricane and flash floods and critics dare accuse of public officals of overreacting.

Just another day

Today: Donated clothes to Goodwill, sold books and movies to 2nd hand bookstore and applied for job there, saw chiropractor, and grocery shopped. Why R days off more busy than work days?

Lovely day off

Wake up to sirens repeatedly so guessing they have a speed trap across the street from my apartment complex. Next exercise a bit and eat lunch ( I don't get up that early to eat breakfast). On to appointment with eye doctor and it's the same one I had in another town. He moved up here and we meet again. Then post office to mail bills, shopping, and go home to do laundry.



Ok, now I put in a basket full clothes in the washer, add soap, and leave it on to run its course. My neighbors run the water, open lid, add soap, run the water, open lid, add clothes, run water, open lid, add more clothes, run water, and leave. I noticed they don't put in a whole basket full in the washer, more like half a basket. Is there a purpose in this or I'm that ignorant of other's people logic.



Anyway, try to take the cat out but he refuses the harness. Then the rain comes in so windows I opened this morning must be closed. Watch TV while doing laundry. And spend the rest of the day watching movies cause not much is interesting to me to watch regular shows. Now off to bed.

We have a winner

Went to eyeglass store #6 today after work. Found the type of glasses I was looking, of course there is a small selection. I guess the popularity of these glasses went down b/c it took down the sales for sunglasses so manufacturers are edging them out. One pair was the teacher look, another too much resembling my father, and one a little too nerdy for me. I found a pair I liked and made appointment for tomorrow. Oh, relief the search is over.

Today I found the globes I saw a customer coming to my cash register bought. I grabbed one to buy. At closer observance, I notice the map is not aligned correctly, West coast of Africa was a straight line, New England is separated and moved north from the rest of America, and half of Norway and Italy were missing. Not a globe I wish to have and yet the others on display were the same way. Plus it had no year printed on it. Was this borders of 2011 or 2008? Oh well.

Stopped at a fast food place cause I didn't feel like cooking. Yum, yum.

The Adventures of Just Being Me

I should have my own reality show, but too scared I wouldn't have enough adventures for a whole series.

Ok, so working for my job I get a discount card for eyewear though not signed up for their eyecare plan. Check the list of nearby places that take this card. I end up going to 5 places b/c I want specific glasses that have magnets to keep the shades that come with the glasses in place. Naturally, I want to check out the eyewear these places have before commiting to an appointment and buying new glasses.

Nobody gets what I'm asking them when they get around to asking me if I need help. At one place I tried on several glasses for at least 20 minutes before someone spoke to me. Then the only ones that fit my tiny face were rimless and I'm not sure I like the whole new look of it. I sat for 5 minutes for this lady to tell me there are no appointments available until next week. One lady thought I wanted the magnets on my current glasses replaced and they don't carry the magnets. Then thought I wanted the shade part replaced and the shades are made specifically for each pair so she can't do that. One more time, I want a whole new set of glasses, I just want the type that have the magnets like the ones I got now before I visit your eye doctor. Geesh. Oh, no they don't have that kind. Ok, next place.

So hard looking at glasses in the first place. Like shoe shopping (I always say the most popular shoes are always the uglyist), they make the most fugly glasses that don't flatter anyone's face. No wonder people wear contacts or get laser surgery. And what does geek chic mean anyway? Who wants to walk around the world looking like a geek? I can't think of any.

Keep trying, maybe have to go to the place I got the ones I have now (a hour away from me now).  

New shirts

Got new t-shirts that are scratch-n-sniff. They have a sticker that says "Rub me, Smell me, Love me". Yeah, I'll do that w/Brad Pitt's picture on it.

People watching

Today I saw a lady walk up to a push/pull door, look around, watched a guy walk through the automatic door next to it, and lady walks through the automatic door. Must not know how to open a door.

Do people go into stupid mode when shopping? Had people get confused, ask if I already gave them their receipt, move things around in their purse, and finally snap back into reality when they suddenly realize I just want their signature. Yes, you have to sign for your credit cards.

Poor dear

Finally asked a coworker I hardly see who died a while back (2 weeks ago). Her dog. Poor thing ate a new kind of treat, fiberous treat got stuck, surgery removed the fibers twisted like rope, got infection, spread, dog so sick they decided to put to sleep. All that from a new treat. Treat company is paying her vet bills and pulled the treat from the stores. She's still in shock and grieving. Poor dear.

New joke

New joke I made up today. When someone checks out Tony Hawk stuff, I comment how someone must be a Tony Hawk fan. I like him much better since he got divorced. Ba da dum.

2 coworkers didn't get it. I meant I like him best as Single.

RIP Jani Lane

I remember Cherry Pie coming out and couldn't figure out what the controversy was about. I didn't have cable so never saw the video until years later. I loved I Saw Red and Uncle Tom's Cabin along w/Heaven Isn't Too Far Away. May Jani Lane rest in peace in heaven after a lifetime battling demons. Heaven isn't far away anymore.

Overnight

Last overnight w/niece and nephew for a while. Took kids school shopping. Then supper and movies at my place. Did laundry. We watched the bonus shorts instead of bedtime stories. Cats teriffied of nephew's remote car, especially when heading towards them.

PS.Forgot to mention the miracle today. Niece was too sick to go shopping w/us. Then after my hug and checking her pj label for her size, she was better and ready to shop. Amazing.

My poor ankle

Come to work to find coworker called in sick so can I work an extra hour. Oh, yes. Problem: I now get a lunch break and didn't bring lunch. Ok so lunch break and I decided to drive down to the mall down the street. Parking lot construction made me park further from the cafe court outside doors and park next to the department store. Next the door separating the store from the mall is closed so can't get to the cafe court. Must revamping the cafe court too. Screw this and go across to the store w/snack bar. Get my food and return to my store's break room. Time to clock in. Plus all this extra walking exhausted my poor twisted ankle to twitch from pain. Ate a chicken tender and put rest in locker for final short break. Hey, at least I got a story to tell, right?



Finished lunch during break and eventfully went home. Stopped on the way to the chiropractor. Ever since I fell my back has been hurting bad. I fell forward, but the limping didn't help the problem. Back fixed so went grocery shopping. Too tired to do laundry so take a nap. Wake up to load dishwasher. Now, watching Sweet Home Alabama. Love that movie. Soon going to bed and work again to tomorrow. Then spend my days off babysitting my niece and nephew. Get to take them back to school shopping and do an overnight. Bought prepared sugar cookie dough for the occasion.

To the pool

Got a call from sister to babysit so she can go to the doctor. I can take them swimming (so she can do errands too in peace). Pick up kids. Nephew doesn't want to put on his shoes. Niece is wearing pants and tell her to put on shorts. Ok, we will stay in the aprtment and not go swimming, if they don't want to cooperate. He puts his shoes on and she puts on shorts.

Next complaint, my car is hot and they refuse to touch the door handles. My lord, I never seen children so scared of things. What do you think adults do w/out crying and whining. Yes the seat belts are hot and put them on carefully. Nephew is convinced adults feel less than kids.

Ok, drive down the road and nephew wants to go to the pool we drive by. That is not my apartment pool (my pool is free). Nephew thought we were going to amusement park pools w/waterslides. No, we go to my apartment pool. Get to my apartment and I have to finish hanging up the laundry and they put their swimsuits on. Off we go making the kids carry something. Auntie's hands are full w/towels, bag, umbrella, and waterjug so any toys kids don't carry get left behind.

Walk to the pool and settle down. Set the umbrella in a hole in the wood deck near the pool. Perfect. Niece hestitates getting in and nephew follows me right into the cool water. Not too cold today. Niece wants to see my tricks. I make her let go of the edge and away from the steps before I do. Otherwise she would never let go and shiver in fear the whole time. Take pictures for sister and husband to see. A group of kids come in w/life jackets. I tell nephew he can swim in the deep end when he puts on a life jacket. Inner tube is not good enough. One kids wants to join our beach ball catch, and then another, then another, and another. Kid and nephew start tossing the ball too hard and too far making me or the other chase it. That's enough for me and put the ball away. Nephew needs to learn to play nicely. Kid wants to play with our kickboard and noodle. I know the trauma of taking a toy away from any child so we will not start. Kid wants to know why, kid wants to play with it? I say, Cause it's ours. Then kid's moter hollers over to leave our things alone.

Niece starts to get pink so I decide to go inside. It has been over an hour. Leaving the gate, I can't see the steps from all the things I'm holding and go kerplunk.I prove to nephew that adults do get hurt. Why just don't cry, whine, and pout about it. Hobble back causing my niece to call me old from my hobbling. I'm not old, I'm in pain. Get a snack in the apartment and kids take a shower. None for me cause I need a band aid and ice. Shower later when better healed. Enjoy features and a TV show before sister picks up the kids. Show off new furniture. Then off they go. Ah, peace.  

Invitation

Got an invite to cousin's daughter's bridal shower. I feel so old. Soon my niece will be getting married and having babies. Then I'll be a great-aunt. I'm not ready for this.

Where did my kitty go?

Come home to be greeted by Precious. No Frodo. Look all over apartment calling him to hear no meow. Find him snuggled in the chair near the front door. Bad cat not answering me.

Nephew's birthday party

Nephew had his birthday party today. His birthday is tomorrow which is the same birthday of a dead cousin so it is a happy and sad day for me. At least it makes it easy to remember.



We had a Cars theme cake and decorations. Niece got excited too and ready to play with his presents. We had to hold her back explaining the toys are Nephew's things so he plays with them first and she takes her turn when he is finished.



It was a small party with grandparents and me (I have to drive Mom). We had dinner and cake w/ice cream. After getting all the gifts out of the boxes and kids started playing with them, we all left.

Family Reunion

Went to family reunion. It was in a A/C'ed house and more than usual people came so some people had to sit on the floor. Host had his daughter and 2 grandsons living with them. I enjoyed watching my mother play Candyland w/a stranger's boys. She would never play Candyland (or any game for that matter) with us kids nor her grandkids, ever. Hostess's cousin in Virginia came w/5 gradnkids. The Cousins now retired want to go out to Virginia and visit DC with this cousin and husband. But we young people are too poor for such an adventure.



Got the usual questions, How's my job? When am I getting a new job? When do I start getting vacation and how many days off? Nobody asks about my cats or my finishing my novels, what I do for fun, of course. Just work questions. Retired people had to trade adventures and ailments. Why do old people insist on telling everybody what's wrong with them. Widows traded experiences finding new life after losing their husbands. Poor aunt planned on their retirement years traveing all over the states and now she has to go alone or wait for one of her relatives to open their schedule. All together it was a good day.

Advocating for animals

I advocate animals on this webpage Pet Pardons to bring awareness that perfectly good pets are being killed every day. So if any of them wish to get a pet, please get one out of their nearby shelters and rescues. Save a life.

Today, I notice the Pet Pardons comments section isn't available. I wonder b/c readers leave nasty messages calling owners who surrender their pets at high kill shelters pieces of garbage, etc. How do we know these people aren't jobless, foreclosed, evicted, and now homeless? Or their home was burned, their owners died, or paycheck cut so can't afford to take of them. Would it better for the animal to be left in a ditch to be hit by a car or abandoned in their empty foreclosed house to starve to death? These people care enough about their beloved pets to take them to the shelter nearest to them (high kill or low kill).

If these people are so passionate to write nasty messages, then help find new owners or rescues for the pets on death row instead cursing the former owners. Start you own rescue group like Pet Pardons founder did.

Time w/niece

Suggested bowling as a fun activity for out of state teen niece staying at my sister's house. Sister wasn't sure, niece is very lukewarm about an activity available (granted there are not a lot of things to do here in the first place). I make her ask her anyway. Niece would like do that. Younger niece and nephew never been to a bowling alley before, but have enjoyed kid multi-colored pins w/plastic ball at my place.

Ok, first problem is little kids don't want to change their shoes. They must otherwise the floor gets scratched up. They don't care if the whole floor is scratched up by their sneakers. Yes I know that, but the bowling alley people do care so take the shoes off. Next, they cry cause shoelaces are tied together and have knots along the laces (Untied the laces and don't worry about the knots). Niece's shoelace is broken so one is longer than the other (I tie her shoes and double tie when she whines she will trip on the long lace). Ok, next problem. Niece wants a pink ball. The kid balls are orange, pink ones are way too heavy. Orange ball too heavy so want pink ball that is 4 pounds heavier. Both complain the ball is too heavy, but brother-in-law shows them how to toss it. (We are not playing volleyball here so ball can be a little heavy). I show how to toss it holding w/both hands and swing between straddled legs (the kid way). Well, brother-in-law didn't want to teach that way. OK. But when their arm got tired, we told them to use both hands. I haven't had lunch so I get a drink and cheesesticks w/fries. Nephew is thirsty and hungry. He just ate so his Daddy will have to pay for it (I'm not their Genie who grants all wishes). Daddy isn't buying anything cause they just ate. At the end when my refill needed to disappear I let the kids finish it.

Ok, so we start to bowl and the kids have so much fun bowling w/bumpers (wish they had bumpers when I was young). When kids were pooped, we took turns bowling for them. I even grabbed the kids ball and bowled the kids way described above making the kids laugh. Sometimes we just need a laugh. So when 2 games were over, kids got over being tired. Too late, game over.

Next, we go home so brother-in-law can mow the lawn before it rains. So we sit and talk to my sick sister. Kids have to cuddle with her. Brother-in-law got out popicles and niece wanted to eat hers while laying on top of Mommy. Sister didn't want a popicle dripping on her so had to eat it in the kitchen. Niece doesn't feel well so stays home while the rest of us go to the amusement. If it was up to nephew, we would stay on one ride all day. But we make him get off after 2 turns. Ride things until park closed and went home soaking wet. I had to go grocery shopping afterwards so walked through the store very cold and wet. Then went to bed so could get up early for work today. Tomorrow is family reunion.   

Harry Potter

Saw the very last Harry Potter and better than I expected. Though the special effect of destroying the horcruxes and Voldemort/Harry reaction to that event were not in the prior film. Continuity is nice to have or it confuses the audience.

Then I come home and get on my computer to become seriously PO'ed. A cat I have been advocating on a rescue site had died from her her illness in her cage. $400 had been raised by the site for her treatment the animal shelter she was in refused to give her. A rescue group was readying to take posession of her and another cat with a broken jaw and she was minutes away from seeing a vet, when she was found dead. Poor cat died in pain and alone.

It infuriates me that animal shelters that adopt to the public are allowed to refuse treatment of animals in their care and rather just kill them when people are bending over backwards trying to save them. Oh yes, got a message how a couple kittens were killed at another shelter b/c their shelter didn't treat respiratory infections. 2 other messages stated how 2 separate litters of kittens were killed b/c the rescuer was a hour late both times. Why do animal shelters not have to follow the same rules as livestock owners, zoos, chicken and egg producers, and now, puppy mills? And why are so many shelter workers eager to kill helpless animals.   

Car fixed

Picked up the car today. Wires fixed, gas cap replaced. Yeah, the missing gas cap was allowing air in the gas tank and lessening the pressure that set off the check engine light. That will teach me not to get gas when having a busy day leading me to drive off with gas cap on the trunk.

Check engine light

Take car in from "Check engine light" being on. Wire is out so can't do the diagnostic required to find out why light is in. Must check wires in dashboard to find bad wire. After 2 hours, they give me a loaner car and they will continue tomorrow figuring out my car. I liked cars better w/out microship sensors and diagnostic checks.

Amusement of the day

Today at my retail store, a young boy (about 7) in the Intimates section was rubbing the bosoms of a mannequin. His mother made him stop to our amusement at his reaction suddenly pulling his hands off the mannequin.

Working my day off

Worked my day off again (3rd time this week so getting a good paycheck). Talked to an intern again as he was bored with nothing to do. He asked what music I like to listen to. My reply: Classic rock, you know stuff that was written before you born. I just aged myself in that statement.

Heard a story of a 20ish girl stealing a pair of shoes (among other things). She set off the alarm at the door, ran outside, and jumped into a waiting car. Bet the driver was her mother. A coworker ran out after her, but too late. Nothing we can do about it now.

New girl never counted a register before and asked if she should since I was counting my register. Well, she had 4 minutes left on her shift and didn't know what to do. I did it instead. 4 minutes was not enough time to train her on that. It is unnecessary to stay after her shift for that (managers also count down registers if not done by closing cashier).

Nothing else to talk about.  

Another day, another dollar

Customer: Why did I bring these kids shopping with me? (preteen girl and preteen boy)
Me: So they don't burn the house down.

Another day, another dollar in my pocket (well, at the end of the week). The heat here is so intense streets are buckling. Minnesota, Louisana, and here in Iowa. The asphalt explodes suddenly and causes traffic jams of people slowly rolling over the raised asphalt like a speed bump.

Tomorrow another work contest ends. I'm the frontrunner so hope I don't get bumped out of place. I need the money. I even volunteered to work 7 days in a row out of need for money (and even with this money I will still beg Mom for more money). I need another job but nobody hires full time anymore. I need a huge raise but that won't be happening. I know, be grateful I have a job at all. I am grateful, I just can't survive on what they are willing to pay me and then they hire more people instead of giving the present workers more hours. That's all.

Catsitting

Visited sister's cat today. Sister left an email for me to do this at 2 AM on the day they left. I didn't read this message until 5 PM. Excuse me? What if I said no? Of course I always say, I'm so easy to take for granted.

SO went over today and pulled the garbage cans from the driveway. I would like to park in it someday. A lady comes up the sidewalk and asks me for help w/her car. She wants me to lift the hood for her so she can change the car battery (old lady can change a car battery but not lift the hood?) Of course I say yes, this is Iowa not New York. I figure her house is across the street so why not. NO, it is a block and half down. I asked if she walked all this way to find me (stranger moving garbage cans). Yes, she said. My new shoes are cutting into my ankle at this point. Can't figure out how to lift the hood. Sorry, I tried, I explain and leave. Neighbor said lady had trouble opening her garage door and she helped her with that. I explain she needed more help with her hood. Neighbor rolls her eyes.

So walked back to sister's house. Pet sister's cat hiding under the coffee table. Tried to play but cat laid down and stare at me. Changed water, more food, and scooped the poop. Then go home. Ah, air conditioning. Then check messages and sister left one asking to water her plants too. I think the plants can handle a couple days w/out watering.

Even better, sister calls to make sure I got all my messages and tells me she watered the plants the day before they left. So please explain why she called me to water her plants if she already did it. I have a weird sister.

Terror in the store

Shoppers got terrorized in my store by 3 boys running amok. Lady had a 4th child in a baby backpack. Displays knocked over and shoppers crashed into. 1 or more screamed so loud the whole store could hear him. 1 customer commented how it sounded like someone being murdered. 1 boy ran w/stroller and tripped. Coworker told him to slow down b/c she didn't want him to hurt. He replied he was looking for his shoes. Another boy stood in front of the automatic door watching it open and close. When closed, he pounded his hands on it. I just hoped he wouldn't run outside when my back was turned helping a customer. After 2 1/2 hrs, lady buys 1 dress w/coupon and paid in change my coworker counted for her. Then lady returns b/c boys took candy bars and she didn't have enough change to pay for them ($3 each). We forgave her. We were just happy they were gone.

New furniture is here

New furniture arrived today when I was drying off from my shower. At least I was not in the middle of it w/shampoo in my hair. Went for a 15 minute jog this morning, well half walking in a brisk manner. Trying to lose weight but back keeps hurting me.

Color of furniture was darker brown than the beige version I saw in the store. But that's okay, dark color will make family happier. They weren't too happy I picked a light beige color w/black and gray cats. They say I want their hair to blend in w/furniture. Whatever. Cat hair is all over the place, no point in hiding it. And I will never throw away my cats cause their fur don't match the furniture.

New stuff makes me itch so have a blanket over furniture. Give it a few days and smell will go away. Cats unsure about the new smell. Give them time and they rub their fur all over it to make it smell like them. I'm happy.

Waiting for new furniture

A day and half I will have new furniture. Tonight moved cat toys out of the way for movers.

At work, didn't get a chance to tell hardly anybody about my "new furniture" cause we were busy helping people. No big sale was going on so don't know what prompted that. They had to call people on their day off to come work from the high traffic we had. Brought in candy to work my sister gave me and most of it is gone. She bought it to toss at some parade and didn't go to it so she just wanted to get rid of it. She lets her kids each have 1 piece of candy per day, so the 4th of July candy is going down tummies slowly.

We noticed some new summer styles out and wondered why put those out when we have Autumn stuff coming in. Where were these dresses and shirts and shorts last month or even May? Maybe it was stuffed in the back and manager decided to bring it out before Winter shows up. I have enough clothes, I don't need more no matter how prety they are.

One gal finally got the ok to allow the fire department to burn her flooded house down. One year after the flood and dealing with insurance and FEMA (both turned her request for help down). Insurance did cover her lost belongings she had to replace, but not rebuilding the house even though it is a total loss. FEMA rejected any assistance whatsoever. City council had to ok the burning her house down and she had to pay the fire department to do it for her. But she got the fee to burn it from somewhere so she can finally get rid of it and sell the land w/out a house the new owners have to tear down. She plans to live in another city when she can afford to buy a new house.

Well, not much else to say.

Moving furniture

Today I moved my current furniture around to make room for the new. Got someone to take my chair. No takers on the loveseat. Think I'll keep my sofa. My visitors will have more room to sit. Cats know something is up with a huge space in the living room. When I moved my couch over, I found 2 doll diapers stuffed behind it. Wonder how those got there?

Discovered chipmunks have finally figured out where crumbs on the ground came from. Saw them climbing the tree limbs to the balcony like the squirrels do and stuff their cheeks full before scampering back into the tree. One sat on the railing and Frodo reached up to pet it. But he couldn't reach it (and he tried) and then it jumped back into the tree. Poor cats, their toys keep running away from them.

Tomorrow back to work. I actually don't like 3 days in a row off work a day, and another 3 days off. My brain falls asleep and I can't get much done. 

Picking out new furniture

Sister told me she had a coupon for a mystery amount off, like 50-90% off. Hey 90% off, I'll take a new couch. I'm tired of not being able to lie down all the way, especially with my bad back. So off we go and it is 5% off. Ok, not exactly what I was hoping for. We can just look. Find a clerk to show us the "cheap" sofas. I pick one out (so much for just looking). I think, I need matching chair (my couch and chair colors clash badly). So we look at accent and rocking chairs. Pick out a rocking chair. Ok, I'm done. Pay for my purchase and set up delivery (people I know refuse help whenever I need it most so I learn not to ask for it). Then visit the chiropractor again cause my hips are out of place again. Hope somebody I know wants a free couch and /or chair. It is a long walk to the dumpster. Maybe charity will take it.

New reporter discovers us

The local paper has a new reporter from Florida. Oh, yeah she will love our Iowa winters. Naturally she writes a Hello article for us to read. Always good to know what weirdoes people think we are, think we live in the late 1800's Wild West, and then they meet us and guess what, we are normal people. For the record, Iowa was never part of the Wild West and sure we had neverending praire grass here, 160 years ago.

So reporter tells us all she knew of Iowa came from Little House on the Prairie and wondered where all the Prairie grass was. The book series and TV series didn't take place in Iowa. Yes, Laura Ingalls Wilder's parents ran a hotel in Iowa for 2 years and now a historic site, but the adventure didn't make it into the books nor the TV series. Her Walnut Grove was in Minnesota where most of the TV series takes place.

Reporter was shocked at all the trees and hills we had (praire grassland is now cornfields). And then what nice litter free streets we had. They must toss garbage everywhere where she came from. Culture is centered around bars and non-chain restaurants owned by the family who also make the food. She is a vegetarian and yes, there are veggie choices on the menu of many restaurants. She loves our farmer's markets and getting fresh produce. And that was about all for the new reporter to say.

Can't wait for the "I'm outta here and back to civilization of Chicago or Kansas City so I won't miss you people" article outsider reporters write when they leave. A friend says the newspaper can't understand why circulation is down, they have a multiculural staff. Do they really think readers want to read what weirdoes we are with the outsider point of view all the time?

Piece of Advice

Please do not allow your infants to suck or chew on store hangers. Today a baby got a cut inside her mouth and screamed like hell from chewing on a store hanger.

Happy Independence Day

‎For being illegal, there are an awful lot of firecrackers popping tonight. Scares the cats to pieces. Guess some don't care about police's zero-tolerance on illegal fireworks. We are a nation of rebels after all.

Happy 4th of July everybody. I will spend mine w/Mom, sister's family, and at work. My nephew from China's first Independence Day. Hope he is ready to have fun and fire up some sparklers. Niece was terrified of them last year and pointed them at people to take it from her. Nobody got seriously burned.

We saw a local parade and niece and nephew got a bucket of candy each. Then went to local park for some rides for kids and then went home for lunch. Sister and Mom didn't want to spend the money on food. I bought a funnel cake. I'm bad. Niece and nephew never had one before. Later we will go see the fireworks at a local school.

Watching Independence Day while waiting to go to work. Very appropriate for today. I like the line "A lot of people died today. How many didn't have to?" Well put.

Cats happy

I think I work too many day shifts b/c I wake up today at 7:30, on my day off. Alarm clock cat paws my face begging me to get my butt up and feed him. Nah, pet cats for a while since I moved and I can't pretend to be asleep (I do that sometimes when trying to get to sleep and don't feel like petting them at the moment). Then I get up and feed the cats, pet them til they start watching squirrels on the balcony. I should be in bed enjoying my sleep, but no, I'm on my computer. Alarm cat is taking a nap now. Should I disturb him? Nope, he moved his head so he is just resting curled up in a ball. Cats are happy.

What a day

Today I helped load a car. Big step w/chronic pain chiropractor is fixing the past month. Hey, I figure if I go out in the heat, coming back into the A/C would feel great. Had a bug fly up my nose. And box wasn't too heavy.

Complained about not having a fan, again. I expressed that I don't want to die from a heatsroke inside a air conditioned building. Funny, half the store is 10 degrees cooler than the other. And I keep ending up on the hot side fanning myself with whatever sign I can find.

Had to hold back from asking a customer if she was wearing a wig or had a bad dye job. Gray hairs stuck out in the back so I guess wig (ugly bad one).

Took Precious for a walk and petted him until he got behind me. Ok, he had his fill of love. Now off to bed. Hope the neighbor vacuuming quits soon. It's almost 11 PM.

Today's events

Today Precious plopped near the vent. Are you saying you want the A/C on? So turn it on and next his left side is on the vent. One hot kitty.

I go to work to find my gas tank cover open and cap mising. Great, after beach, bank, shopping, and getting gas I leave my gas cap on the trunk and drive off.

Hot day at work. Turned a sales flier into a fan.Showed off my sunburn from the beach. Met new girl. And finally, one hour before I leave I change registers and get a fan. Then home to have cats veto turning the A/C off.

How's your day?

Day at the beach

Took niece and nephew to beach (nephew from China's first beach visit).Was worried they would hate it b/c  hot sand and cold, dirty water. They freak out getting dirty. We try to explain it is fun to get dirty, but they don't like the feel of anything touching them. So arrive and nephew is in long sleeve shirt and swim trunks.Tell him to change into short sleeve shirt. Sister is ready to give stuff for our adventure. I have everything ready, except sandbox toys. Anything else she gives me the kids will carry b/c hands were full packing my car. So we arrive and kids complain sand is in their sandals. Duh. Spread out blanket and open umbrellas. It is so windy almost everything flies away. Umbrellas came handy stopping stuff from blowing away.

Get into the water (dirty lake water) and kids are fine with sand between their toes. Nephew tries out the inner tube and kickboard. Niece loves inner tube too so they share. They make sand castles and holes right next to the blanket. I repeatedly tell them no sand toys on the blanket, but they keep tossing them on the blanket. I even shook blanket to get sand off. Blanket is refuge from sand, not a sandbox. Nephew whines the sand is hot and I say to put on his shoes. Guy near our set up played the ukelele and sang Over the Rainbow from 50 First Dates. Niece and nephew enjoyed the music. Niece got knocked over by a kid playing and thought she would start crying hysterically as she is prone to do. Nope, her crying face stopped after a few seconds. Kid apologized and she is not hurt so there is nothing to cry about. Then after a couple hours, go home.

But sister is not home. So we wait. Make kids change clothes and they play in their rooms. Nephew puts on again long sleeve shirt and this time, pants. I tell him to chnage into t-shirt and shorts, but he won't do it. Just b/c the A/C is running, we don't need winter clothes on. Sister comes home eventually and we chat before I leave.     

Hot day

Spent several minutes at work as a cashier fanning myself with a senior discount sign b/c sticky fingers in Misses keep taking our motorized fans for their dressing rooms. Yes, there are people who come to the registers dripping in sweat from the dressing rooms being so hot. But that leaves us cashiers standing next to heat producing computers and the outside doors for hours. I actually felt light headed b4 fanning myself. Then a coworker went on break and later home so I got her register w/fan. Once we had a fan for each 15 registers and now down to 5.



Came home, did regular routine and cat Precious starts hiding from me. Yesterday, I did my coming home routine, shut the door, and grabbed Precious to drop him in the carrier for a vet visit. I have to ambush in new ways or face getting bit and scratched if they sense doom. After several minutes, he came out when realized he was not going to the vet again. Not til next year.



Gotta a date w/niece and nephew tomorrow. 1st time nephew will go to the beach. Bet they hate it. Hot sand, cold and dirty water, and everything is dirty. I call it being outside.

Work adventures

Today at work a lady asked my coworker and I if we check out jewelry or does she have to check out at the jewelry counter. Yes we check out anything you want to pay for. I see she is wearing a necklace with the sales tag sticking up so I include the tagline, though we like you to take off your jewelry first. She passes my register and goes to my coworker behind me. Coworker asks her to remove her necklace so she can scan it. She is dumbfounded, she's not wearing a necklace. She feels her neckline and finds a necklace. She says to me, That's what you meant. My coworker removes it cause she can't unhook it. Now, she doesn't want to buy the necklace she had around her neck. Ok, fine, weirdo.

Tell coworker my adventures of going to Aunt's birthday, amusement park, and how while at amusement park my sister cleaned her house with birthday aunt. Birthday aunt is a neat freak, OCD neat frea,k so sister's house is Spic and Span clean. Further explain the OCD part with a tale of aunt once thought the street in front of her house was dirty. So she grabs her broom and sweeps it. And she could not figure out why her neighbors told her that she was weird. The street was dirty.

Had customers apply for the store credit card. One couple my coworker had, the wife wanted to apply to get the discount but the husband did not. So they had to argue and then husband had to argue every step to apply for the store card. Yes we do a credit check for that. The customer I had said she felt sorry for my coworker. It's a rare thing when a customer feels sorry for a sales clerk, most of time they love to vent their bad days at us.

Then we had a debate whether or not a dress reeked of cigarette smoke. A manager gave my coworker a dress to damage out cause it stunk of cigarettes. My coworker could not smell a thing so she gave it me. One whiff and Yes, it stinks of smoke. I had college roommates who smoked and that's what my clothes smelled like. I can tell she smokes or someone in her house smokes for her not to sense that.

Came home to change clothes, trick the cats into coming in the bedroom, trapped them in the room so I can get Precious into a carrier for his annual vet visit. Poor baby meows all the way there. He knows where we are going. Weighs 19 lbs. My god every year I try to make him loose weight and every year he gains a pound. Someday he's going be 30 lbs. Get another weight loss recommendation. I tell vet his tummy has shrunk, how can he heavier? It's all muscle, he says. Precious is silent on the way home. Come home and give cats treats. Frodo is still under the table hiding from me. He comes out after I take off my shoes and turn on the TV. I'm not going anywhere.  

Amusement park

Went to the amusement park with niece, nephew, and brother-in-law. Won niece a duck. Nephew rode the roller coasters, well not the upside down one since he needs more height. We saw the circus. Nephew didn't want to see it, but I said if he never seen one then how does he know he doesn't like it. Oh yeah, he enjoyed it. Niece dropped her duck between the bleachers and I assured her we get it when the show ends. I crawled wbetwen the seat to get the duck.

Then when done we came home to sister's house where homemade ice cream was waiting for us. Took Precious for a walk at my place and found the Siamese cat again. Precious wants to play so bad, but it keeps running away from him. Must be a girl cat. Now I'm ready for bed.

Good Morning Children

Wake up to noisy children hungry for breakfast. Nephew wants eggs b/c I don't put brown sugar in my oatmeal. I explain I got favored packets of oatmeal, so he gets oatmeal. So while they eat, I feed the cats and make the beds. Niece comes in complaining nephew called her an ugly girl. I don't care who farted, who said what, or who did what, go eat your breakfast. And call nephew an ugly boy. I repeatedly tell them to pipe down and eat, no talking at all. So after breakfast, they play making a big mess. I sense they found the play money and play shopped. Hear nephew repeatedly say "My husband had his credit card stolen". I did not have play credit cards so don't know where that came from.

Kids have to fight over toy. Nephew complains niece ain't sharing. I say nephew can play with another toy until niece is done playing with toy. And I will take it away so nobody plays with it if anymore arguing. Eventually we have to pick up the toys. Nephew asks why they have to pick up. Well, you don't have to come here and if you do, you pick up. They are too big to leave the mess to me, I'm not their maid. Then sister comes and say good-bye.   

Latest Escapade

I got my niece sleeping soundly, finally. After watching Cars 2 in the theater (niece claimed to not want to watch a "boy" movie though she loved Cars 1, but when I said I was vacuuming she was persuaded to watch the movie from her sensitivity to loud noises), they show up ready to have fun. No fun, we are eating dinner that is cooking in the microwave. Nephew is still getting used to the idea that "Auntie" is not "Mommy". He asks for milk, but doesn't touch it and to do their Superman prayer. Nephew does not like the chicken coating and refusing to eat bad chicken that has brown on it. I try to explain the brown is just the part touching the bone, it is not bad. Niece asked for the chicken legs and was full after eating the coating. Ok, I say, you are so full then you don't get dessert. Oh she is hungry now. Help both remove the chicken from the bones. Nephew asks about my missing salt and pepper shakers. They were snowman shakers and since it is summer w/out any snowman around, they are put away. Dessert follows and I drink the milk nephew neglected. Nephew is upset about sharing germs as I drink from his cup. Kiss his cheek and explain that we have now shared germs. We watch a movie as my nephew has to drag out all the games. Need a new rule that nephew is no longer allowed to touch the games. He keeps grabbing that are too old for him to play and leaves them all over the floor. I did finish my Marco Polo book.

Movie done so it is time for bed. They want Christmas stories and the Christmas themed blankets. It is the middle of summer and they obsess over Christmas things. Their parents packed the swimwear when I said it is too cold for swimming and forgot the toothbrushes. Kids just will have to have stinking breath until they get home. Set up night light and kiss good night. Call sister to ask when is she coming tomorrow. Now I need to get to bed.   

Cat tortured

At night, my Precious meows so intensely for a walk that I'm certain the neighbors think I'm torturing the cats. Today I did.

1st was the vacuum. My floors covered in hair and then dirt underneath need to be vacuumed about 3-4 times to get everything, then dump out the dirt/hair into a grocery sack. To to the delight of tormenting my kitties, I had to stop to clear the atachment tubes packed with hair and stop to remove hair twisted around the roller with a pair of scissors. Precious came in while clearing the roller believing I was done. Nope, continued on using my attachments on the whole fllor b/c my roller covered in hair doesn't want to work. I also have to stop to walk around on hands and knees picking up gobs of hair off the carpet the vacuum won't pick up. I work on my knees and finally sit down when bending over begins to hurt from excessive use of attachments on a large living room floor. Vacuum has to fall down on my back so I'm certain I will need a chiropractor next week. Finally, after 2 1/2 hours, I'm done (or rather I give up).

Next sweep the balcony covered in sunflower seeds and peanut shells from the squirrels and birds not using silverware. Broom scares the cats though it makes no noise.

Then, leave to grocery shop. Cats hate separating from me for any amount of time. And when I get home, I give them flea medicine.

And final torture, my niece and nephew are coming for an overnight visit. Pooooor kitties.

Visiting the zoo

Took niece and nephew to the zoo today. Zoo was doing construction for better exhibits so had to walk the long way around. Nephew wanted all the rides first. I explain this is not an amusement park, there is a camel ride and train ride, the end. There is a playground with slides and sandbox. Nephew wants to play instead of seeing the "stinky and gross" animals. Okay, next time we go to the park (It's free). Niece wants to see and feed animals so off we go. Niece feeds fish, I feed the goats. Now nephew wants to feed fish. Ok, one more cup please. At the bird feed, kids just want to watch me. I tell bird feed woman they are scaredy cats so now they want to do it too. Go in the cage, and when the birds fly up for the food, the kids cry and run away. So I end up feeding the birds that crawl up your arm waiting for the bird on your hand to finish. Told ya they were scaredy cats. From nephew's whining for a drink, we visit snack shops to find nobody there. Finally find one open we have ice cream treats and drinks. I'm sure they wanted a full meal, but too early for that. Find a new toy at the tiger cage, a half jeep w/fake luggage on top as if going on a safari. Kids jump right in. See all the exhibits, we leave discovering the gift shop is closed. Sorry, almost closing time.

Go home to find sister not home. So teach skateboard techniques. Nephew wants TV or computer, not too hard skateboarding. That's why we practice, to get better at it. So teach them to stop on the carpet of the living room leaning on a clothes hamper. I twist around showing how to turn (harder on carpet). Next move to kitchen and grab the counters to practice movement. Enough lessons, we watch a movie. Sister comes home as I start supper. Show her photos off my camera. Nice dinosaur exhibit. Kids ready for a bath from playing in dirty sandbox. I go home.    

I remember you

Worked with a guy tonight I haven't seen much lately. We keep working on opposite sides of the store. He is always half hour late so I'm surprised he is still here so they must need workers (most jobs fire you for being habitually late). Told him about training the intern , there is a new gal, and no, she is not his type. Talked about the dance recital and how I passed on my love for ballet to my niece. That probably explains why I'm single, guys think I'll drag them to the ballet. Oh, no, I wouldn't do that anymore than any guy would drag me to a football game that I find boring. He brought up The Black Swan. Oh yes, I have that movie. Love it. I said how in the special features the writer said he came up with the idea when he discovered that the White Swan and Black Swan are the same dancer. I commented how that had been common knowledge the past 100 years. He laughed. Mentioned the catsitting I've been doing while brother-in-law is running a faraway marathon. Then it was time for me go so said bye to him. I think I covered the important things.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Catsitting

Visited my sister's cat today. My cats always freaked out when I leave and don't eat their food, but after my catsitter's visit they calmed down and ate regularly. Uncertainity when the next meal will be is stressful on a cat.

Cat was happy to see me. Got the mail, added water, and did my laundry. I was worried about the dryer making a squealing sound and thumping as it tried to turn. Then everything is normal and clothes got dry. Man I have to stop shopping. I'm out of hangers.

Came home to happy cats and now have to go to bed so I can wake up extra early. Gotta pay the bills.

Dance recital

Enjoyed my niece's recital. The fun occurred before the show. Do my hair, put on fancy dress with matching make up, put on fancy shoes, and painted fingernails. I come to pick up my Mom when I unconsciously drive into the parking lot where I work that is on the way. Pull out and go to Mom's. Curled my hair with a curling iron so ask Mom how my hair. She replies it is a mess. Sister arrives with the ballerina and trouble maker. Sister replies to same question my hair with a It is fashionable. How very avoiding giving an opinion and stating fact. She must hate it too.

Get food at a fast food place to wait on a chair for my order to arrive. A group of guys and a mother with her kids keep staring at me. Must not have ever seen a girl in a dress before. Sister is disorganized as usual forgets the hair spray for ballerina. I brought my own, just in case. Sister says I don't need to go out and buy more, we can make do without it. I correct her misunderstanding. So fix ballerina's hair in a bun and hose her down with hair spray. Trouble maker is driving sister nuts wanting to watch movie they brought, but DVR is not set up to watch videos. Some guy fixing a connection messed with the cords the other day. So no movie.

Sister departs with ballerina. I take trouble maker who would be bored backstage (as I pointed out to sister) and Mom. Sister hasn't picked up ballereina's flowers so we do that on the way to the recital. Shopgirl was wondering if we were coming caused the note said we pick up 4 hours ago. I said we were delayed. Go to recital and watch The Sleeping Beauty. Ballerina played Kitten Who Lost Her Mitten during the wedding celebration. Intermission and we find brother-in-law.  Recital continues and kitten has a mane for a Lion King song. Then we leave, take pics, and drop Mom off. Go home to walk the cat.  

Practicing

Have been practicing my skateboard this week. I plan to teach my niece and nephew how to skateboard so have to reteach myself. I loved skateboarding as a teenager (though not as good as say, Tony Hawk). Skateboards are different now. My old skateboard was flat with 2 sandpaper strips, now are concave with whole standing platform is sandpapered. Takes some time to get used to it. Hope niece and nephew like it too.

Today I practiced walking in 4" platforms to get blank stare from Frodo. He followed me around the apartment and ran away when I got close. Think can handle them when I wear them during my niece's dance recital. Sure I can wear flat shoes as guys like to point out, leading me to say "Ok, let's pretend I'm a woman and not a man like you, and women wear heels". Flat shoes kill my feet while heels give more arch support. If you stand still, your toes get a lot of pressure so always best to move around in them. Seriously, look at any women's shoe section and you will find a lot of heeled shoes. Women like heels (it's makes us taller to reach the lips of the men we love) and makes our legs look slimmer.

Cemetery day

Picked up Mom to take her to the cemetery where her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents are. Yes, Mom's family is in 1 cemetery while Dad's is scattered everywhere. Found the mystery person was by with peonies in coffee cans. Mom can't figure out who this person is.



Mom has to complain how hot my car is (when it sits in the day all the time, it does get hot) and my A/C is not cold enough for her liking. She is also wearing pants on a 85 degree day. I guess she sits in her A/C'ed apartment and never opens the windows so she doesn't need to wear shorts. She says I need more coolant or Freon. OK, Mom.



Take Mom home and go to my Dad and his parents graves by myself. My sister took Mom yesterday to Dad's grave. Sister didn't leave flowers for our grandparents, just Dad. I had 2 extra flowers so left them with Dad. Went grocery shopping and came home. Cats love the balcony and watching the birds and squirrels in the trees. Ah, milkshake.

Happy Memorial Day

Does Happy Memorial Day seem like an oxymoron. Like we are saying, Happy Celebrating Dead People Day.



I worked all weekend and will drive Mom to the cemeteries tomorrow. Mom was disappointed we aren't visiting on the weekend, but what can I do. She wants to wait for my schedule instead of asking for certain days off a month in advance, then that is what you get.

RIP Jeff Conaway

RIP Jeff Conaway. (Pete's Dragon, Grease, Taxi, Bold & Beautiful, some sci-fi thing, Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrity Rehab) He was a good actor who could have been great, but the drugs got in ther way. He will be missed.

Nice

Heard it is law for manufacturers to phase out incadescent bulbs by 2013. Would be nicer if light fixtures in my apartment ceiling and new lamps I have bought didn't say "incadescent only". They also say putting in a compact florescent bulb will cause a fire. Nice.

Coworker chat

Coworker told me a friend of hers paid top dollar for a purebred white German Shepherd pup and after it peed all over her carpets from her not training it, is now selling it on Ebay. Am I alone in asking, Why did she get a puppy in the first place?



Coworker said she has trained dogs for years and this friend didn't have the patience for dog training and would never listen to her advice on how to train. She asked me about traning my cats. I call it a work in progress. But, mama cat trained my kittens in litterbox etiquette so all I had to do was place my new baby near the litterbox and scratch at the litter so they knew where it was located. I taught them Off, Down, and their name also means Come. They know each others names too so if I call one cat, the other cat will start looking for them. I also taught them to walk on a leash, but they don't always accept it. I got a lot of patience. I also allow them on the furniture and top of the cupboards so less training for me.

Oprah's last show

Oprah had her very last show and I missed it b/c I grabbed a full disc and DVR's don't record stuff already there like VHS did. I swear the more they improve technology the worse it gets. I hate Digital TV. Since I found no erase function on the DVR, I went on my computer and used the DVD burner to erase all my discs. Won't be having that problem again.

Random act of kindness

Leave windows open today since the forecast is sunny all day. 20 mins before leaving work it pours rain. Go home expecting a mess to clean up and wet furniture. Come home to find the maintainence guy who was suppose to inspect the water damage from leaky ceiling today had closed the windows. How nice. Would be nicer if he not left paint on the window when painting over the damaged ceiling. Oh well. Any bets how long it will take before the ceiling leaks again?

Todays agenda

Today I did laundry, went to chiropractor, grocery shopped, and had supper with aunt from Omaha. Now sit with a root beer float in my hand and kitty napping in my lap. Life is good.

Surprise in laundry

Did laundry today and found a cat toy among the clothes. I wonder how that got there.

Bogus coupons

Found out someone is making up bogus internet coupons. Apparently this pops up once in a while. My story of the day.



So this is the end of the world. Funny it looks the same to me.

Saw the chiropractor

Saw the chiropractor today and got my misaligned hips, mid back, between shoulder blades, and neck adjusted. Feel better and wait for the pinched nerves to heal.

One more day

One more work day to go and I get a day off. I'm worked 6 days in a row (tomorrow is 7) w/my back killing me I can barely move. Been taking Tylenol, Aspirin, and Advil together and still in pain, but can tolerate it. Realized coming home that I left the heating pad on all day. Asked around for a good chiropractor at work to hear nobody lives around here or not on employer's insurance to give me a name. SO tonight look up people on the insurance's website. Hopefully I can make an appointment tomorrow morning before work and get an appointment for my day off. I hate to go and call in sick to relieve stress on my back after treatment. And hope it is just something out of place and not serious. Had a friend go in the doctor cause she fell off a ladder, hurting her back, and they discovered she had colon cancer.

Hmmmm

Ok, so go to mailbox and there is a flier announcing the world will be ending on May 21, 2011. Funny, I thought the world will be ending December 21, 2012 when the Maya calendar runs out. Oh well, people said the world would end at the stroke of 2000 with Y2K fears broadcating famine and planes falling the sky; and yet I sit here typing this. Whatever.

Ouchy

Yesterday , get up, feed the cats, go to dentist, come home to pet cats, and my back starts to hurt. Take lots of aspirin and lay on a heating pad for eternity, it doesn't go away. Bon Jovi concert is that night and I ain't missing it. I would have enjoyed it more if I was not in terrible pain to the point of my hands shaking and breathing deeply to avoid crying. I don't know which was worse, Sitting or Standing? As we left the concert, 2 Bible beaters were standing on podiums preaching against sin to an audience ignoring them. Saw people selling Bon Jovi shirts for $10. I'm thinking license/copyright infrigement?

Then today I'm still in pain and can barely move. I have so few hours this week and not earned any sick days, I have to work. I struggle to dress and put on shoes. I actually prayed to God to please let me get to work. I tell only coworkrs my trouble in case they notice I'm a little stiff. I even excused myself to take more aspirin during my shift. To customers, I'm happy as can be and should have earned an Emmy for my performance pretending I'm having a good day. I doubt any of them would care if I said I wasn't good. Come home to lay on a heating pad a couple hours to feel a little better. Sister called requesting babysitting while I was at work. I called back to have Mom pick up the phone. Requested she cut out the newspaper photo of Bon Jovi I saw and asked for more money. Please God help me find a better paying job so I can stop begging for money.    Now to bed.

Adventures in Babysitting

Pick up niece and nephew. Brother-in-law is still home so kids spend 4 minutes with their Daddy before he goes to work and we go to the park. It's 90 out so slides and everything else are hot. Nephew pouts in the shade drinking his ice water b/c the slides are hot. I say he can sit there and pout if he can't pick up his bare knees so only shorts and shoes touch the hot slide. I get on a swing and eventually nephew wants to swing. Niece comes in right behind him to steal his swing from him. Before I can say, Nephew was there first, he stands right behind my swing (I can't see him) and send him flying. Nephew is scraped up and shedding blood so we are going home. Niece wants to stay and play some (it's only been 15 mins). No, nephew is bleeding so we are leaving. Band aid him up and watch a movie. Have dinner. Nephew has calmed down so go fo a walk. Nephew on trike and niece on scooter. Then we play in the back yard until kids are tired. Watch TV shows and play on computer until bedtime. Getting ready, I hear laughing and shouting. Nephew keeps peeping at niece when she is naked. Order nephew to his room to change into pj's. Niece brushes her teeth. Reading stories, my sister comes home so I give my report and leave.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.

Joke of the day

Coworker 1: Any guesses who will win the Kentucky Derby.
Coworker 2: I don't know, a horse?

Bad Precius

Did laundry today and Precious snuck while the door was extra wide open from me holding a laundry basket. So we had a walk as I did my laundry. Precious followed me to the laundry room and meowed as if tortured when I refused to open the door. Then we left and he was happy eating the plants and eventually came home. Tried to take him out again when left to remove clothes from the dryer, but he was busy with a nap and not wanting to be disturbed.

Big News

As a movie ended, I switch channels to watch the news. There is big news forever broadcasted. Osama Bin Laden is dead, confirmed dead, by US forces. I ask, Now what?

Adventures being me

Shoe rack on door breaks, shoes drop to floor, Precious investigates, wind through window shuts door, trapped Precious meows, I tell him to shush thinking he wants a walk, realize P is trapped when tired of his meowing, and open door. How was your morning?




Have new cat door in my balcony screen door (large tear in a corner) the cats also discovered and eventually walked through it. They want those birds.

Happy Birthday Frodo

Congrats to Prince William and Kate Middleton

The wedding of the century is upon us, until Prince Harry's wedding. I will be recording the celebration since I refuse to get up at 3 AM to watch it on TV and not crazy enough to sleep in a tent along the parade route in London (and I'm broke). And so for a wedding gift, I write this poem.

If I were to write a poem
For your big wedding day
I would use silly words
and try to make it rhyme.

If I were to write a poem
For your dream come true
I would say congratulations
and have a joyous time.

If I were to write a poem
For your big wedding day
I would wish I could be there
but natural forces pulled us apart.

If I were to write a poem
for Will and Kate
I would give them a big hug
from the bottom of my heart.

If I were to write a poem
on your big wedding day
I would toast the love birds
and present you the only copy.


Not bad for a 1st rough draft I think.

Easter day

Picked up Mom since she refuses to drive in the big city she moved into unless she has to, like a doctor's appointment. Arrive at sister's house and they just finished getting dinner ready. Niece is eager to eat the bunny cake I brought, but too full to eat her dinner. Sister says, if has room for cake, then she has room for corn. Finish our food and time for the kids to take a nap. Sister goes downstairs to start laundry and kids leave their beds to start banging the doors repeating. I assume sister couldn't hear them so ordered kids to bed. Sister returns to chat with Mom and me. Conversation was listening to sister complain about her job and unrealistic expectations of school administrators/government have. Mom and I just sat in silence and nodded in agreement. Mom asked a few questions to clarify her position. Kids napped for an hour before coming back out. Then we watched a movies. Asked Mom when she intended on leaving. She wanted to stay for supper. OK. After supper, I asked Mom if she intended to stay until bedtime. Just curious here. Sister points out how I stay that like I'm ready to run out the door. No, I just don't want to get home at midnight. Sister starts cleaning up from supper and we leave. Come home to cats starved for attention. Cats had a can of tuna for their Easter gift.